Lucknow, April 18
Buckling under a continuous attack, senior BJP leader Lalji
Tandon today said he was stepping down from the post of convener of Prime
Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s election campaign committee. “I am stepping down
from the post of convener and will now work as a BJP worker to ensure the
victory of Mr Vajpayee in the Lok Sabha elections from Lucknow,” Mr Tandon told
mediapersons at a press conference here today.
He said Mr Sheo Kumar would now
be the convener of the committee. “The death of 21 women has created a political
furore for no fault of mine. As I am close to the Prime Minister, the Opposition
is targeting Mr Vajpayee too. Therefore, I thought it prudent to step down from
the convener’s post,” Mr Tandon said. He said he had apprised the Prime Minister
of his decision.
“I enjoy a long association with the Prime Minister from the
Jan Sangh days. Therefore, my love and respect for Mr Vajpayee will not cease by
holding a post or quitting it, Mr Tandon said. He was not sure whether the
controversy would die down after he quit the post. “I am doing my bit. If
opposition parties still want to make it an issue, it is up to them,” he said.
